French investor counsel for Colombia
Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. is a US law firm founded in 1997 that serves international clients with US legal needs, including French investors pursuing business opportunities in Colombia. The firm provides US-side counsel on cross-border investment structures, regulatory compliance, and dispute resolution, while collaborating with Colombia-licensed Of Counsel on matters of Colombian law. For French investors, navigating the intersection of US, Colombian, and French legal frameworks requires coordinated counsel across multiple jurisdictions. Mr. Sris, the firm’s founder and managing attorney, is admitted in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York, and leads the US-law aspects of each engagement. For Colombia-law matters, the firm works with Eric Duport Jaramillo, Of Counsel, admitted to practice law in Colombian bar and not admitted in any US state bar; that role is limited to Colombia-law matters in collaboration with the US-admitted attorneys of the firm. Reach Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. at (888) 437-7747 to discuss your cross-border investment needs.
What This Cross-Border Practice Area Covers
French investors entering the Colombian market often structure their investments through US holding companies or US-based investment vehicles, taking advantage of US-Colombia trade frameworks and the familiarity of US corporate law. The US side of such a structure involves entity formation, securities compliance, tax planning, and cross-border contract negotiation. Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. advises on the US-law components of these transactions, including the selection of a Delaware corporation or LLC, compliance with the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the application of US anti-money laundering rules under the Bank Secrecy Act. The firm also addresses US export-control and foreign-investment review considerations, such as those administered by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), when a French investor’s US holding company acquires a US business with Colombian operations.
On the Colombian side, the firm’s Of Counsel, Eric Duport Jaramillo, provides guidance on Colombian corporate law, foreign-investment registration, and local regulatory requirements. Mr. Duport Jaramillo is licensed in Colombia and is not admitted in any US state bar; his practice with Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. is limited to matters of Colombian law and to serving as a liaison for international clients with US-licensed attorneys at the firm. This division of responsibility ensures that each jurisdiction’s legal work is handled by an attorney admitted there, while the client receives coordinated cross-border advice.
How Mr. Sris and His Of Counsel Network Handle These Matters
When a French investor engages the firm for a Colombia-focused project, the engagement is structured to respect the jurisdictional boundaries of each attorney’s licensure. Mr. Sris and the US-admitted attorneys of the firm handle all US-law aspects: forming the US entity, drafting shareholder and operating agreements, advising on US securities and tax implications, and representing the client in any US-based litigation or arbitration. The firm’s Colombia Of Counsel, Eric Duport Jaramillo, handles the Colombian-law components, such as incorporating a Colombian subsidiary, registering the foreign investment with the Colombian central bank, and ensuring compliance with Colombian labor and environmental regulations. Mr. Duport Jaramillo is admitted to practice law in Colombian bar and is not admitted in any US state bar; his role is limited to Colombia-law matters in collaboration with the US-admitted attorneys of the firm.
This collaborative model allows the firm to provide integrated counsel without any attorney practicing law in a jurisdiction where they are not admitted. The client benefits from a single point of coordination—Mr. Sris—who oversees the US-side work and liaises with the Colombia Of Counsel on the Colombian-side deliverables. The firm’s location in Pereira, Colombia (by appointment only) serves as a convenient meeting point for clients and local counsel, but all US legal services are provided from the firm’s US locations.
About Mr. Sris and the firm’s Of Counsel Network
Mr. Sris, Owner and Founder of Law Offices of SRIS, P.C., is a former prosecutor admitted to practice in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York. He founded the firm in 1997 and has built a cross-border practice that serves international clients, including French investors, on US-law matters. Mr. Sris testified before the Virginia House Courts of Justice Committee in support of 2019 HB 635 (chief patron Del. David Bulova), the bill that became the 2019 revision to Va. Code § 20-107.3(g).
For Colombia-related engagements, the firm collaborates with Eric Duport Jaramillo, Of Counsel for Colombia matters. Mr. Duport Jaramillo is a Colombian-licensed attorney with a background that includes service as Minister Counselor at the Embassy of Colombia to the European Union and as Executive President of the Pereira Chamber of Commerce. He is licensed in Colombia and is not admitted in any US state bar; his practice with Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. is limited to matters of Colombian law and to serving as a liaison for international clients with US-licensed attorneys at the firm. Together, Mr. Sris and his Of Counsel bring extensive combined legal experience to cross-border investment matters.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a US attorney if I am a French investor in Colombia?
If your investment structure involves a US entity, US securities, or US-based financing, you need a US-licensed attorney to handle those aspects. Many French investors use a US holding company to invest in Colombia because of the familiarity and flexibility of US corporate law. A US attorney ensures the entity is properly formed, securities laws are complied with, and any US tax or regulatory obligations are met. For the Colombian side, you will also need a Colombia-licensed attorney. Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. coordinates both through its US-admitted attorneys and its Colombia Of Counsel, so you have a single point of contact for the cross-border legal work.
How does the firm handle the division between US law and Colombian law?
The firm strictly separates US-law work, handled by Mr. Sris and the US-admitted attorneys, from Colombian-law work, handled by the Colombia-licensed Of Counsel. No attorney practices law in a jurisdiction where they are not admitted. Mr. Sris oversees the US-side matters—entity formation, contracts, securities, litigation—while Eric Duport Jaramillo, Of Counsel, handles Colombian corporate, regulatory, and compliance matters. The two sides collaborate as needed, but each attorney’s work is confined to their licensed jurisdiction. This structure protects the client and ensures compliance with applicable bar rules.
What US regulatory issues should a French investor consider when investing in Colombia through a US entity?
Key US regulatory considerations include securities compliance, anti-money laundering rules, and potential CFIUS review if the investment involves a US business with national-security implications. If the US entity raises capital from US investors, it must comply with the Securities Act of 1933 and state blue-sky laws. The Bank Secrecy Act requires anti-money laundering programs for certain financial institutions. Additionally, if the French investor’s US holding company acquires a US business that has Colombian operations touching on critical technologies or infrastructure, CFIUS may review the transaction. The firm advises on these US-law requirements and coordinates with Colombian counsel on the local side.
Can the firm assist with disputes arising from a French investor’s Colombian project?
Yes, the firm can represent the client in US-based litigation or arbitration and coordinate with Colombian counsel for any Colombian proceedings. If the dispute is in a US court or under US arbitration rules, Mr. Sris and the US-admitted attorneys handle the matter. For disputes in Colombian courts or under Colombian law, the firm’s Colombia Of Counsel, Eric Duport Jaramillo, can serve as local counsel. The firm ensures that the client’s interests are protected across both jurisdictions without any attorney overstepping their licensure boundaries.
How do I get started with cross-border investment counsel?
Contact Law Offices of SRIS, P.C. at (888) 437-7747 to schedule a consultation. During the initial discussion, Mr. Sris will assess the US-law dimensions of your proposed investment and, if Colombian-law work is needed, will coordinate with the firm’s Colombia Of Counsel. The firm’s location in Pereira, Colombia (by appointment only) is available for in-person meetings with local counsel. All consultations are by appointment, and no attorney-client relationship is formed until a formal engagement agreement is signed.